Automatic bulb-feeding device



July 27 1926.

J. J. HIGGINS AUTOMATIC BULB FEEDING DEVICE Filed July so, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 aNvENToR J-OHN J. HIGGINS |l lil I inl Illxl 'LTTORNEYJuly 27 1926.

J. J. HIGGINS AUTOMATIC BULB FEEDING DEVICE mmll. n ..0 L

INVENTOR uoH/v u. maa/Ns BZ/M ATTORNEY atented July 27, 1926.

iaasas lJOHN .TOSEBH HIGGNS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TWESTING- HOUSE LAMP COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIEC EULB-FEEDING DEVICE.

vApplication filed July 30, 1921i. Serial No. 729,053.

rlhis invention relates to machines for manufacturing incandescentelectric lamps, particularly to mechanism for transferring a lamp partfrom one position to another. An object of the invention is to provide adevice for the expeditious and accurate transfer of a lampbulb from atray to a lamp-makin@ machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and effective bulbtransfer mechanism which may be applied to a lampmaking machine for theautomatic disposition of lam bulbs therein.

@ther ob]ects and advantages will be apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

ln the manufacture of incandescent elec-. tric lamps, it is desirable toeliminate Vas'far as possible all manual operations and to this end, thepresent inventionprovides a mechanism which may be applied to one typeof `machine employed in the manufacture of such lamps. y

'.lhe machine to which the present invention is applied is known in theart as a seal ing-in machine; that is, a machine in which the mount issealed to the bulb portion. The lamp bulbs have heretofore been appliedto the .sealing-in machine by a manual operation, the operator having toperform the function of inserting a lamp mount in a socalled sealing-inhead and subsequently positioning a lamp bulb over the mount, afterwhich the sealing-in operation is performed.

ln the present invention,l lamp bulbs are initially positioned in a trayprovided with a plurality of tracks or slots. This tray is then disposedin an inclined position adjacentto an apron or conveyor provided withpockets adapted to coincide with the several slots. The lamps are fed bygravity and enter the slots, after which they are moved to apredetermined position by the conveyor. The conveyor may be positionedin a given operating relation to a sealing-in machine and a transfer orlifter arm is provided to oscillate between the conveyor and sealinginmachine to transfer a bulb from the conveyor to said machine.

Coordinating mechanism is arranged to operate the conveyor in propertimed relation to the sealing-in machine so that when a head thereof isin its proper relative position with respect to the conveyor, thetransfer arm will operate to lift a bulb from the conveyor and transportit to position in the sealingin head. 4

The invention embodies novel constructional features which will be morefully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in Which-Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention applied to asealing-in machine, part of the structure being broken away to showcertain operation mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1; y

lFig. 3 is a detail view ofthe transfer arm with portions of the spindleand operating mechanism in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional ldetail of mechanism for stoppingsealing-in heads in given positions, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an end of thel transfer arm having grippingjaws.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a sealing-in machinewhich may be of any of the well known types. AdjacentLo the sealing-inmachine is positioned a conveyor 11 of the endless type, rotatable uponshafts 12 and 13. The conveyor may comprise a flexible belt 14C having aplurality of pockets or carrier-members 15 suitably secured thereto andadapted to be moved with the belt 14. 'lhe pocketsmay be arranged to bepositioned in alignment with slots 16 of a hopper or tray 17. rllhe traymay bev suitably supported at an angle to effect a downward movement ofbulbs 18, slidably disposed in the slots. 'lhe bulbs may thus enter thepockets 15 when thepockets are positioned adjacent to the slots. l` heconveyor may then be moved by mechanism to be hereinafter describeduntil a. bulb is positioned in a predetermined position with respect toa sealing-in machine. This position is indicated in the drawing bv theletter A.

lIt will be appreciated that when a tray* is iilled with bulbs and aplurality of bulbs equal to the number of slots inthe tray have beenremoved by the conveyor, the empty pockets of the conveyor following thefilled pockets will receive a bulb from the first slot with which itbecomes aligned. The same operation will'occur when the nextemptypocket-reaches the first slot and this operation will be repeateduntil the Erst slot has been emptied after which the BUI . this typeandthe same has,

remaining slots will be emptied in like manner. As a bulb is moved bythe conveyor to' position, indicated in the drawing by the letter A,means aie provided for raising the bulbl vertically to bring the upperportion thereof suiliciently above the pockets to be grasped by atransfer arm. This means may comprise an inclined surface 20 (see Fig.2) supported on a platform 21 properly arranged with respect to the mov*ing conveyor so that an end of a bulb will traverse the inclined surfaceand, as the conveyor is moved, the bulb will be lifted. A guard member21 may be provided to close the ends of the pockets 15 as they are movedto position bulbs for removal by a transfer arm 22 arranged to oseillateupon a sleeve or shaft, to be hereinafter described, be-

tween the conveyor and a sealing-in machinel for the transfer of a lampbulb to the liitter.

The sealing-in machine may include supporting table or structure 23 uponwhich a spider or conveyor 23" is rotatably mounted. The spider may havea plurality of sealingin heads 24 radially disposed thereon and mountedon shafts 24', spaced at intervals in hubs 24. These heads may bemovable in a circular path with the spider which is operatedintermittently through the agency of a Geneva movement comprising theusual slotted disk 25 (see Fig. 1) which is secured to a shaft 26 towhich the conveyor is also fastened. The disk 25 is operatedintermittently by the usual driving arm 27 which may be mounted on ashaft 28 to which a worm wheel 29 .is secured. Said worm Wheel may be inmesh with la worm 31 secured to a shaft 32 which may be operated throughthe action of any suitable type of pin clutch Which permits onerevolution of the shaft for each actuation of the clutch. Such clutchesare common in machines of therefore, not been illustrated. The shaft 32may be provided with a beveled gear 33 disposed in mesh with anothergear 34 secured to an end of a shaft 35. The opposite end of this shaftmay be provided with a beveled gear 36 in mesh with a beveled gear 37 atone end of a shaft 38. The opposite end of this shaft may be providedwith a beveled gear 39 disposed in mesh with a beveled gear 41 securedto an end of a shaft 42. The shaft 38 may extend beyond the gear 39 andbe provided with a beveled gear 44 disposed in mesh With a gear 45, atthe end of a shaft 46, which shaft may be carried in a suitable bearingAand provided with a beveled gear 47 in mesh with another beveled gear48 secured to the vertical shaft 13 constituting the driving shaft ofthe conveyor. An intermittent movement of the conveyor isetfectedthrough the various gearing just described which may beconnected to a suitable source of power as for example a motor ltioned.

It will be noted that inasmuch as the shaft 32 is permitted to make acomplete revolution for each actuation of a clutch, the shaft`46 whichdrives the conveyor anl the shaft 42 will also make a completerevolution. Gearing of the required ratio may be provided to translatemotion to the conveyor and move thesame a given distance to position thepockets 15 in alignment with the slots 16 with each actuation of thespider 23 of the sealing-in machine. The shaft 42 may be secured to abarrel cam 49 which comprises means for effecting an oscillatorymovement of the transfer arm 22. Mechanism for eifecting this movementincludes a segment 51 pivoted on a pin 52 at the under side of a frameor other structure as indicated in Fig. 2. The segment is provided witha downwardly projecting stud 54 disposed in a sinuous groove 55 of thecam 49. The groove 55 is so disposed with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the shaft 42 that a complete rotation of the cam results in anoscillation of the segment 51.

To eifect an oscillatory movement of the arm 22, a shaft or sleeve 5(see Fig. 3) upon which a portion of the operating mechanism of the armis mounted is slidably connected to a toothed-disk 56 disposed in meshwith the toothed portion of the segment 5l. The toothed-disk 56 isprovided with a key 57 (see Fig. 3), movable in a key-way 58 formedlongitudinally in the sleeve 50, thus providing for the slidablemovement of the sleeve through the disk 56 and at the same time berotatable therewith. 'A bearing arm or bracket 56 may be provided tosupport the disk 56 which in conjunction with the frame-work 53 of themachine prevents vertical movement of the disk.

In addition to an oscillatory movement of the transfer arm, it isnecessary to effect a vertical reciprocation thereof in order toA bringthe jaws 59 downwardly about the spherical portion of a bulb and to movethe jaws from about the bulb when a bulb has been deposited in asealing-in machine. The jaws may open by reason of the potential energyof a )usb-rod connected therewith and hereina ter more fully described.Means for closing the jaws may comprise a lever arm G0 pivoted at oneend in a depending bearing 61, secured to the framework 53 of themachine.

The arm 60 may be positioned and shaped to engage with an end 62 (seeFigs. 2 and 3) of a push-rod 63 movable vertically in the sleeve 50. Thearm 60 may be provided With a pin 64 positioned in contact with a face65 of a cam member 66 secured to the shaft 42. The effective cam surfacemay be energy, effect a movement of certain elements to be laterdescribed to open the aws.

l rlhe sleeve which carries the transfer arm may be rotatably supportedin a guidebearing 66 and a collar 67 may be provided to limit thedownward movement of the sleeve. The collar may be adjustable along` thesleeve and held in position by a suitable set-screw. The transfer armmay comprise a carrier member 68 secured at one end to the sleeve 50 andmay terminate in a multiple-bearing block 69.

A plurality of bell-crank levers 71 may be journaled in bearingsprovided in the block 69 with one of each of the arms of the cranksdepending and having the jaws or grippingfaces 59 secured thereto.

The opposite arms of the bell-cranks 71 are connected to links 72pivoted in bearings 73 in a movable-head 75. rlhis head may be providedwith ears 76 having pins 77 secured therein and adapted. to engage witha double-forked end 78 of av lever 79 pivoted in a bearing 81 integralwith the carriermember 68. The opposite end 82 of the member 7 9 isforked to embrace the pushrod 63 between collars 83 and 84; A ver-`tical reciprocation of the push-rod will thus cause the jaws 59 to beopened or closed as 'the head 75 is raised and lowered.

For the purpose of maintaining the proper relative positions yof thehead 7 5 and the bearing block 69, the bloclr is provided with acentrally located guide pin 85 arranged to enter an aperture 86 in thehead 75, thus maintaining 'the proper operating relation of the partsduring the opening and closing cf the jaws when the push-rod 63 isreciprocated through. the rotation of the shaft 42.

As the transfer arm 22 is moved from one position to another it israised and lowered to bring the jaws 59 about a bulb to lift the sameand to deposit the bulb in the sealing-in head. The vertical movement ofthe arm may be effected through the shaft 42 upon which the barrel-cam49 is mounted.

A cam-member 87 having-a cam-face 88' may-be secured upon the shaft 42adjacent the barrel-cam and may engage with a pin 89 (see Fig. 1),fastened to and projecting from an arm 91 pivoted at 90 on the bearing61 which also carries the arm 60 for actuating the push-rod 63. rlChefree end 92 of the "arm 91 may be forked and adapted to embrace aflanged collar 93 secured to the sleeve 50. An oscillation of the lever91 will cause the transfer arm to be lifted and lowered in accordancewith the effective cam-surface 88 which may be so formed that as theshaft 42 revolves and the mechanism is actuated to oscillate thetransfer arm, the transfer arm will be lifted from one position andlowered to the other position and vice versa.

lit will be noted that the cam 66 is positioned to operate the lever 60in conjunction with a cam-surface 88 of the cam 87. rlhus, when thetransfer arm is lowered to posi tion the gripping jaws about a bulb atposition A, a movement of the shaft 42 to actuate the cam 87 will alsoactuate the cam 66 vto lift the lever arm 60 to engage the push-rod 63,thus bringing the jaws 59 in contact with the bulb. The cam 66- is soarranged that the push-rod will be engaged by the lever during theoperation of the camsurface 88 to raise the transfer arm and as .thecam-surface permits the transfer arm to be lowered to position a bulb insealing-in machine, 4the, cam 66 also permits the lever` varm 66 to-bedisengaged from the push-rod 63. Upon a release of the push-rod, itwill, by reason of its potential energy, drop, causing a movement of themember 79 to open the jaws, leaving the transfer arm free to be againraised 'and moved to grip another bulb at `position A.

The oscillatory movement of the transfer arm is governed by thebarrel-cam which may be 'provided with a neutral portion to permit arotation of the shaft 42 when the transfer arm is positioned withthejaws 59 directly over a bulb receiving or depositing position. 42may, therefore, cause the jaws to move vertically to either receive ordeposit a bulb.

The sealing-in head 24, as illustrated, may include the usual bulbadapter 94 having faces to receive and adjust a bulb in proper verticalalignment when the bulb is dropped into the adapter. lt will beunderstood that by reason of the construction of the sealing-in head, itis not necessary that the transfer arm operate to move a bulb to thefinal position inthe adapter, but that the jaws may release a bulb whenit has been vertically adjusted over the adapter to permit the bulb todrop therein. The bulb adapter generally comprises a semi-circular platehaving 'ends 95 and 96 secured in suitable posts 95 and 96 of thesealing-in head.

The heads may be stopped in given positions when the conveyor comes torest at the stationary stages. Any suitable meansy A partial movement ofthe shaft i' mounted on a post 97 secured to a stationary portion 98 ofthe supporting structure of the machine. A helical spring 99 having oneend secured to the post is positioned to normally press upon an'extension 101 of the arm to hold the same in the path of a pin 102 uponthe' under surface of a sheave 103 fastened to the lower end of shaft 24of the head 24. The sheave 103 may be frictionally driven by a belt 104common to this type of machine. When the conveyor stops, the head willobviously keep rotating until the pin 102 engages the arm 96 at whichtime the relative rotation of the Ahead will be terminated and the beltwill slip upon the sheave 103. The sealing-in head 2a may therefore bestopped to position the adapter in a given position to facilitate theinsertion of a bulb. lVhen the conveyor again moves, a relatively greatforce will be applied to the arm 96 causing it to tilt in opposition tothe spring 99 and permit the head to pass and again be rotated by thebelt.

Various types of stop devices are employed for temporarily terminatingthe rotation of the head ina given position and the one shown is merelyan example of such mechanism.

In practice, the present bulb transferring device may be readily appliedto the well known type of sealing-in machine. In this type of machine,the operator first inserts a lamp mount which is indicated in Fig. 2 bythe reference numeral 105; This lamp 7 mount constitutes the internalstructure of a lamp and is of a very delicate character, consisting ofan arbor consolidated with glass flare and exhaust tubes upon which aremounted the fine filament wire.

When an operator has positioned a mount in the sealing-in head, it isnecessary that considerable skill vand care be exercised in the.application of the lamp bulb over the mount 4 to its proper position inthe adapter of the head. The transverse area occupied by the filamentportion of the mount is almost equal to the area within the neck of thebulb and it will be appreciated that the bulb must be inserted inv adownward, even and careful manner so as not to disturb the mount. Thesealing-in operation, therefore, required operators selected for theiraccuracy and dexterity in the handling and positioning of the bulbs.

It will be appreciated that operators of the above character are notalways available and it often requires considerable time and is a costlyprocedure to train an operator until the necessary degree of skill isattained.

The present bulb transfer mechanism eliminates the manual performance ofthe bulb inserting operation v.for the sealing-in of a bulb. Mechanismembodying the present invention may be properly positioned and supieasasi ported with respect to a sealing-in machine and the hopper of tray 17thereof may be loaded with bulbs or blanks. The operator may insert amount into the holder of the sealing-in head, at which time the transferyarm 22 will be in position to remove a bulb from position A of theconveyor.

As the sealing-in machine is indexed to make a partial revolution, thetransfer arm will begin to lift a bulb and carry it to 'the sealing-inhead and position the bulb over the mount and in the adapter, and thetransfer arm will then return to position A to grasp another bulb. Whenthe operator indexes the machine to move another sealingin head to.position to receive a bulb, the conveyor will also be put in operationto position a bulb beneath the transfer arm.

The movement of the conveyor may be at a sutliciently low rate of speedso that a bulb is moved to position A during the time the transfer armis oscillated to carry a bulb from the conveyor to the sealing-inmachine. As the transfer arm is depositing a bulb in the sealing-inmachine, it will be obvious that another bulb is being positioned by theconveyor ready to be received by the transfer arm upon its return.

It will be readily understood that the several mechanisms may operatecontinuously and that it willonly be necessary for the manualapplication of bulbs to, the hopper. After a bulb has been sealed-in orother operations performed thereon by the sealingin machine and itreaches the loading stage, the operator may remove it and'place a lampmount in the head, which is then ready to receive another bulb. l

Although a device has been shown to stop the rotation of a sealing-inhead at the stage in which it receives a bulb, it willy be understoodthat it is contemplated to deposit the bulb in the head during arotation thereof. In sealing-in machines of the type to which thepresent invention is shown applied, the head is rotated during certainstages, as when the heat is applied to ,the bulb, but in theintermediate stages. the'driving mech'- anism is removed and the headrotates merely by reason of its inertia. Thus the speed of rotation ofthe head is obviously greatly reduced when the head reaches the positionfor the deposit of a bulb and in fact only a slight rotation of the headoccurs at this time, making it possible to drop the bulb in place to becentered by the adapter.

The present mechanism is thought to be an advanced step in the art,inasmuch as it provides for an automatic performance of operations whichwere heretofore accomplished by long experienced and skilled operators.The accuracy and positiveness with which themechanism operates brings itin keeping with the standards of production and reduces the cost ofmanufacture.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown and describedherein, it is to be understood that other modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means forautomatically positioning a bulb, means for securing said bulb and meansfor transporting said bulb to` said sealing-in mechanism;

2. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, meansforpositioning a bulb, a hopper having` bulbs therein, means for movinga bulb from said hopper to a predetermined position, means for se'-curing said bulb and means for -transporting said bulb to saidsealing-in mechanism.

3. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means forpositioning a bulb, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, means forremoving a bulb from said hopper 'and a transfer arm for depositing saidbulb in said sealing-in mechanism.

Ll. A lamp making machine comprising sealing-in mechanism, means forpositioning a bulb, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, anendless conveyor for removing said bulbs from the hopper and means fortransporting said bulbs to said sealing-in mechanism.

5. In combination, a lamp making machine and a transfer mechanism forelectric incandescent lamp bulbs comprising a support for a plurality ofbulbs, means for removing bulbs singly from said support to apredetermined position and means for transporting said removed bulbs tosaid lamp making machine.

6. In combination, a lampmaking machine and a transfer mechanism forelectric incandescent lamp bulbs comprising a support for a plurality ofbulbs, means for removing bulb-s from said support to pre-- determinedpositions and mea-ns for transporting said bulbs to said lamp makingmachine.

7. A transfer mechanism for incandescent electric lamps comprising ahopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, a bulb-conveyor, means forfeeding bulbs to said conveyor and means for removing bulbs from saidconveyor.

8. A transfer mechanism for incandescent elec-tric lamps comprising aho-pper for holding a plurality of bulbs, a bulb-conveyor, means for-feeding bulbs to said conveyor and means yfor removing bulbsindividually from said conveyor.

9. A transfer mechanism for incandescent electric. lamps comprising ahopper for holding a plurality of' bulbs, a bulb-oonveyor, means forvfeeding bulbs to said con'- veyor, means for elevating said bulbs with11. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanism, a gravityfeed hopper, a bulb co-nveyor to receive bulbs fed from said hopper anda transfer arm for transporting bulbs from said bulb conveyor to saidsealing-.in mechanism. 1

12. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanism, a gravityfeed hopper, a bulb-conveyor to receive bulbs from said hopper, atransfer arm having jaws to grip a bulb when in said conveyor and meansfor actuating said arm to transport a bulb to said sealing-in mechanism.i

13. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanism, a gravityfeed hopper, a bulb conveyor to receive bulbs from said hopper, atransfer arm having jaws to grip a bulb in said conveyor, means foraetuating said arm to transport a bulb from said conveyor to saidsealing-in machine and means for releasing said bulb for deposit in saidmechanism.

14. A lamp making machine comprising a sealing-in mechanisma hopper forholding a plurality 'of bulbs, means for feeding bulbs from said hopper,an endless conveyor to receive bulbs, means for actuating said conveyorintermittently to position bulbs, a transfer arm, gripping jaws on saidarm, means for actuating saidarm to secure a positioned bulb by saidjaws and means for moving said arm to remove said .gripped bulb fromsaid conveyor for deposit in said sealing-in mechanism.

15. A lamp making machine comprising a.

sealing-in mechanism, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, meansfor feeding bulbs from said hopper, an endless conveyor to receivebulbs, means for actuating said conveyor intermittently to positionbulbs, a transfer arm, grippingv jaws on said arm, means for actuatingsaid arm andjaws to secure a positioned bulb, means for kmoving' saidarm to remove said gripped bulb from said conveyor for deposit in saidsealing-in mechanism and means for actuating said jaws to release saidbulb.

16. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in heads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters incorporated in saidheads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs, means forremoving bulbs from said hopper and means for applying bulbs to saidadapters.

17. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in beads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters in,-

corporated in said heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lampbulbs, a bulb-conveyor for removing bulbs from said hopper, a transferarm for transporting bulbs from said hopper for deposit in saidadapters.

18. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in heads mounted thereon.,`bulb centering members incorporatedinysaid heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of bulbs, means forfeeding bulbs from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor to receive bulbs fedfrom said hopper,

' a transfer arm having jaws, means for actuating said jaws to grip abulb in said conveyor and means for moving said arm to transport saidgripped bulb from the conveyor for deposit in one of said centeringmembers. v

19. A lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in heads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters incorporated in saidheads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs with theirlongitudinal axes in vertical positions, means for feeding said bulbswhile in said vertical position, means for receiving and moving saidvertically positioned bulbs to predetermined positions, a transfer armhaving jaws, means for actuating said jaws to grip a bulb, means formoving said arm to transport said bulb while maintained vertical to saidcarrier.

20. A- lamp making machine comprising a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in heads mounted thereon, adapters to receive bulbs incorporatedin said heads, a hopper for holding a plurality of lamp bulbs with theirlongitudinal axes vertical, means for feeding said bulbs by gravitywhile in their vertical positions, a conveyor for receiving and movingvertically positioned bulbs and means for transportin the bulbs anddepositing while still vertical in said adapters.

21. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lamps,a bulbconveyor, a. rotary carrier, a plurality of sealing-in headsmounted on said carrier, a bulb transfer arm, means for actuating saidconveyor and carrier synchronously and intermittently to position a bulband a sealing-in head in given relative positions and mea-ns foractuating said arm to transfer a bulb from said conveyor to one of saidheads during a stationary stage of said carrier and said conveyor.

22. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lampbulbs, means for feeding lamps from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor toreceive and remove bulbs from said hopper, a rotary carrier, a pluralityof sealing-in heads mounted on said carrier, means for synchronouslyAactuating said bulb-conveyor and said rotary carrier to position a bulband a sealing-in head in given relative positions and means fortransporting a'bulb from said conveyor to one of said heads.

28. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lampbulbs, means for feeding lamps from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor toIreceive lamps from said hopper, a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in heads mounted therein, bulb-adapters associated with saidheads, means for synchronously and intermittently actuating saidconveyor and said carrier to position a bulb and an adapter in givenrelative positions and means for transferring said bulb to said adapter.

24. A lamp making machine comprising a hopper for a plurality of lampbulbs, means for feeding' lamps from said hopper, a bulb-conveyor tovreceive lamps from said hopper, a carrier having a plurality ofsealing-in heads mounted thereon, bulb-adapters associated with saidheads, means for synchronously and intermittently actuating said carrierand said conveyor to bring a bulb and a sealing-in head in givenrelative positions, a transfer arm ada ted to oscillate between saidconveyor an said carrier, means upon said arm for gripping a bulb andmeans for actuating said arm to transport said bulb to one of saidadapters during a stationary stage of said conveyor.

In testimonyl whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th dayof July, 1924.

JOHN JOSEPH HIGGINS.

